Boot and shoe lasting machine



(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet v1. G. W. GOPBLAND.,

BOOT AND SHOE LASTING MACHINE.

' Patented 001;. 27, 1885.

WITNEEIEEE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. W. GOPELAND.

BOOT AND SHOE LASTING MACHINE.

Patented Oct n. varias. www. ummm aa (No Modelf) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. W. GOPELAND.

BOOT AND SHOE LASTING MACHINE.

I No. 829,280. Patented 081;. 27, 1888.

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'GEORGE W.l COPELAND, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT AND SHOE LASTING MACHINE.

HPELIIFIICA'JJION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,280, dated October 27, 1885.

Application filed May 27, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. COPELAND, of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boot and Shoe Last-ing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description, reference being had to' the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The object of the invention is to provide means for forming in the edge or margin of the toe-section of the upper a series of peculiar slit-s or cuts, which not only have a general converging direction-in relation to eachl other, but also a direction vinclined to the surface of the upper, so that the sections of the upper thus formed by 4the cuts may more easily, readily, and naturally overlap in the lasting process. j

' In the drawings I have represented the knives for forming these slits or cuts arranged in two opposite groups, one adapted to operate upon the corner or section of the toe-up per at one side of the central line, and the other upon the other side. I have also arranged the two groups of knives so that they are adjustable horizontally or laterally in relation to each other in order that uppers of varying sizes may be cut by the same device. Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents afront elevation of a machine containing the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of a toe portion of an upper, showing by the full and dotted lines the direction of .the slits or cuts. Fig. 4is a plan view of the toe-section of an upper, showing, in addition tothe Various slits or cuts, V-,shaped sections of the upper removed. Fig. 5 is a vertical central section of the device, and Fig. 6 shows in vertical section and in elevation beyond a portion of a lasted toe the edge of which has been prepared for lasting by my improved device. Figs. 7 and 8 relate to a modification, hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the bed of the machine. It carries or supports by the portions a the support B for the toe of the last, and also the surface b, upon whichv the edge or margin of the upper rests while it is being slit or cut. This part B, preferably,

Serial No. 166,840. (No model.)

is made in two sections, b and b, and adapted to be moved laterally upon their supports@ in order to accommodate the lasts and uppers of varying sizes and widths. They are adjust-ed or moved horizontally by pressing the last into the cavity b3, and against the pressure of the spring b". The cutting surface b preferablyis of composition or of wood.- 'Arranged immediately above are the blocks C and C', which carry or support the-knives c. They are supported by the extensions or parts a of the bed, and by the pins or studs c', which connect them with the two parts b and b2 of 65 the rest, and they are movable laterally with the said two parts b and b2 of the rest, and against the'pressure of the springs c2. These blocks have extending through them the passages c* for the knives. The direction of these passages is best shown in thedotted outlines in Fig. 2, and the knives are provided'with reciprocating movements in these passages -by means of the cords o", which are attached'to the upper ends of the knives by the arms c5, and which pass through the holes c in the knife-blocks, and over the rolls c to the common treadle es, and upon the depression of the treadle, of course, all the knives are simultaneously moved or reciprocated in one direction.

In order to compensate Afor variations in length of the connecting-cords, and also to bring each cutting-edge to the surface b, I have arranged, as a portion of the connection between the treadle and the knives, a spring, e9. This enables me to bring each knife-edge to the block b, and if any shall come to rest before the others the cords actuating them can still be moved, as the spring upon the cords 9o actuating the knives which have come to rest will yield or give to permit the continued movement of the other actuating-cords. The knives are returned or moved in the opposite@ direction by mcans of the springs el, which 95 surround the studs c, extending upward from the knife-blocks, and acting as guides and supports for the upper sections or portions of the knives. It will be observed that each knife is arranged with relation to the especial slit or cut which it is to make; that they are arranged in groups, so that the group upon one side of the central line cut with reference to the slits and the direction of the diagonal cut IOO which that section of the toe upon which they operate should have, and that the knives forming the other group are reversed in inclination and arrangement so as to cut slits substantially diametrically opposite to those cut by the first-named set; also, that the knives not only cut slits, but a slit of apeculiar character-namely one that extends diagonally through the stock, and not straight through it, so that after the cut is formed the portions of the stock or material on each side overlap. By using additional knives properly shaped, I may remove sections of the edge ofthe upper, and in Fig. 4 I have represented the sections as thus removed. In Figs. 7 and 8 I show an arrangement of knives for accomplishing this purpose.

Of course I do not confine myself to the devices herein described for reciprocating the knives simultaneously, or substantially simultaneously, but may use any mechanical equivalent therefor.

In operation I prefer to cut the slits after the upper has been placed upon the last, and the toe-oi` the last, with the upper thereon, is placed upon the support B, and the act of plaeing'it causes the knives to be brought or moved to the proper position for cutting or slitting the edge of the upper. The edge of the upper is turned outward, as represented in Fig. 5, so as to rest upon the surface b. rIhe treadle o8 is thendepressed and the knives are moved downward simultaneously, and the slits formed. rIhe upper and last are then removed and the lasting proceeds. Of course, with proper modifications, I may use ,this device for slitting the heel-edge or any other part of the upper, and it is not always necessary or desirable to use the last, although I consider it as a rule advisable so to do.

Having thus fully described my invention,

- I cla-im and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the upper, andaseries of obliquely-arranged knives for cutting the diagonal slits, substantially as described.

2. -The combination, in a machine for slitting the edges of boot and shoe uppers, of a table or surface for supporting the edge of th'e upper during the slitting operation, and two series of slitting-knives mounted obliquely on .suitablesupporta adjustable laterally, and

the last, and the surface b, the knife-.blocks C G', having the k nite-guiding recesses or holes c, the knives c, the treadle c, and connecting mechanism, substantially as specified, all substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. The combination ot' the knife block or blocks, the knives supported thereby, the gnideposts c, springs el", and treadle es, and connecting mechanism, as specified, all substantially as and for the purposes described.

(i.l The combination of the support B, made in laterally-movable sections, and the springs b4, all substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. The combination of the support B, made in movable sections, having the surface b, the knifeblock made in movable sections and supporting the knives, and connected with the block B,- so as to be movable therewith, and the springs c, all substantially as and for the purposes described.

GEO. NV. COPELAND. `Witnessesz F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, J. M. DoLAN. 

